runaway

Flower!, reading your post made me think of the graduate certificate at the Courtauld: http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/postgraduate/cgdha/index.shtml Off the top of my head, I don't know of a similar program in the US, but I'd be surprised if there isn't one. Good luck!

If you're completing courses towards your degree, you should report these grades. If the credits are transferring to your home institution and the grades will appear on that transcript, then just submit that. But you should be submitting transcripts sufficient to show ALL grades that have contributed towards your BA. I studied at 5 different schools before earning my BA, but only listed the coursework that ended up being relevant on my CV. For instance, just for fun I took a class at Tisch one summer. The credits transferred towards my degree but don't have anything to do with my research, so I submitted the transcript but didn't put it on my CV. I also completed an SLI course at Pitt, which didn't transfer towards my BA. It's relevant to my research, though, so I listed it on my CV (as 'summer study') and submitted the transcript to prove I did well. I also have a question: My school's guide to CV's suggests a section for professional memberships. I have a few, but none are honor societies or anything of the like. Is actually worth adding?

Professors generally don't have lots of free time to surf the web reading blogs, on the prowl for potential grad students. And while it depends on the department and perhaps the subfield, some professors still consider blogs para-academic and not an appropriate training ground for academic work. There are some good academic blogs, but by and large they're run by current PhD students or early career scholars, and often anonymously. You would be better off writing a strong conference paper and presenting it at a conference where you might be able to network. But, with all due respect, your small samples of writing here haven't demonstrated any great aptitude. I don't doubt your passion and love for history, but you might want to start thinking creatively as to how you could utilize that passion in a career that doesn't require a PhD. You might be well suited to a job in museum education at a history museum, for example. I have friends in similar positions who only hold a B.A. That kind of job experience would also be helpful for getting into an MA program further down the line.

I would just focus on low-stress vocab review. Don't try to learn any new words, but go over the ones you sort of know but don't know cold thoroughly. Also remember that it's impossible to really replicate the actual testing environment. You'll be nervous, but you'll also be more focused, and adrenaline will help. Good luck!

ropeclimber, I'm in your boat (1 yr MA) and I'm going to apply this fall for PhDs. I have some plan B's in mind, but I don't want to wait a year to start a PhD program if it's not necessary. I'm planning to use my references from undergrad, and I have my thesis and a couple conference papers as possible writing samples. Like futurePhD said, worst case scenario is going through another application cycle. I figure if that happens, I'll be better for the experience of doing it once, anyway, and my CV will be that much stronger.

If you're concerned about funding, you could also look at fellowships that would fund a master's (or at least graduate study) in Germany, such as a DAAD or Fulbright. Not every program is worth a big move, but many are-- and I'd say that includes anything funded. Keep in mind, also, that as a history PhD student you'll have to do a lot of traveling for weeks or months at a time in order to access archives, learn languages, and otherwise do research. If you're balking at the idea of moving for one or two years, it might be an indication that a PhD isn't the best idea for you.

Given your username, shouldn't you be doing some of this research on your own?

I think everyone's given some good advice so far for kdiggs, but I want to stick up for their desire to stay in the Northeast or PNW, since it's one I share. I spent the first two years of my undergraduate career in Texas after growing up in Boston, and it was a huge mistake. Granted, the college happened to have a more conservative student body, but it took me a long time to make friends and the culture shock was pretty severe. There are parts of that experience I loved and still value, but having done it once, I know I won't do it again. Further, there are state laws that aren't nullified by an open minded, liberal campus. As an LGBT person in a long-term relationship, I can't imagine forcing my girlfriend to move with me to a state where we couldn't contemplate getting married or, perhaps more importantly, where it's legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Obviously these criteria are a matter of personal fit, and I know there are many people who would never want to step foot on a campus in New England. Much as I'll jump to defend my part of the country, I think it's unfair to assume a preference for a certain region is made out of ignorance or assumptions.

I totally forgot about this thread! As per 'modifying' my results, people have pretty much already mentioned everything. I make sure my LinkedIn is up to date, because I know it has a high SEO ranking and will almost always be the top result. Every now and then I come across a social media profile I'd forgotten about which has my full name on it, so I'll go and adjust profiles as needed. I'm also not above contacting people and asking politely that they take something down or make it private. Generally people understand, as they're concerned with how they show up in Google, too. A word on Facebook: you never know when you might get a sudden request from someone professional, so it's worth keeping your friends-only information looking respectable, too.

annieca, I think you have less to worry about than it may seem like right now! I was put in a similar position at an interview this spring. I prepared by sketching out my interests as broad themes (I actually brainstormed and wrote them down) and identified areas where the new direction the interview concerned connected to these themes. I then picked up a couple books and read them looking for connections to my current areas of expertise. It's a good chance to practice skimming a text for the information you need. Don't worry about knowing everything about Romania. You're going to school to learn, so if you knew everything already then this campus visit would be pointless. Instead, identify jumping-off points that will allow you to talk about the work you've done so far, and how it will be the perfect background for shifting focus towards Romania. This strategy worked for me, at least, but I hope you might be able to adapt it to fit your situation!

For some strange reason, a number of the POI I'd like to contact are on leave next semester. I'm thinking waiting a few weeks won't make a difference, assuming that they're going to have a busy, slightly different schedule for the rest of the application season anyway. On the upside, I know they won't be on leave in 2013. Thanks for the replies-- I was told to always attach my CV while approaching potential affiliates for my Fulbright application, and this process seems similar, although maybe slightly less formal.

question as I think about contacting POI-- should I attach my CV to the email?

Um, yes! I google myself often and I do whatever I can to modify the results so that I like what appears. I expect to be googled by anyone who is given my resume.

I'd be willing to, although I'm a bit behind in writing-- knowing I have someone to look at it will help me get my act together!

I agree with Shelley. Also, the cornerstone of most museum studies programs is their internship component, which would be impossible to replicate online. I'm not familiar with any online museum studies programs, and while they might exist, a good internship with a local museum might be more cost-effective and helpful for your resume.

There's no shame in taking a gap year, and there are lots of options for putting a year or two between your undergrad and PhD that are structured and might help you narrow your focus further. Some of the top MA programs are as competitive as PhD programs and as prestigious, but it sounds like you'd be a competitive applicant. You might also consider applying for a Fulbright, which could fund both research and internship opportunities at museums abroad. Good luck!

That's pretty old. I've seen postings at a lot of major museums in the past few months. What's frustrating is that most of them require several years of experience, and entry level positions still seem at a premium. But there are jobs.

My backup plan: A museum job of some sort. I'm considering also applying to a few of the one-year museum fellowships, although those are also extremely competitive...

There's quite a bit of research on this subject in the 20th century, especially related to LGBT history. I don't think it would be hard to find an advisor willing to work with you on that topic. But I agree with some others that you need to find the right way to phrase it-- in order to seem serious and informed about your topic and to prove that you're not simply trying to go for scintillating bonus points on your SOP. "I'm interested in porn" and "I'm interested in the economic impact of production and trade of pornographic photographs in the 19th century" are two quite different things. With gender studies being such a hot subfield right now, I don't think this kind of proposal is as risque as it might have been even five or six years ago.

I second ticklemepink-- you would do well to look at MA programs, which might give you a boost for applying to PhD programs later on. I looked into creating my own major in undergrad, and was advised against it because I planned on grad school. The reasoning here was that it would be hard for people to read my transcript and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the particular department I was coming from if I didn't actually have a department. It's also more difficult to gauge how rigorous the course of study was. Since lots of schools offer a degree in the major you designed, it might be a bit different for you, but an MA would definitely help you cover your bases. As for GPA, if it dramatically increased after you switched majors (which it sounds like it did?) I think that would be seen favorably... but maybe someone else could weigh in on that.

First, congrats, cgmoore. And never feel bad for bragging around here-- I think this is one place where it's completely acceptable! And thank you for starting the topic, because I've been wondering about a similar thing. I've suffered from mental illness most of my life, and this reflects on my transcript-- not so much in my GPA but in withdrawn courses, extra semesters, and a transfer to be closer to better care. At one point I thought I wouldn't be able to graduate high school, so I'm especially proud of my achievements thus far. I think I'm a competitive applicant, and I've definitely proven that my illness isn't a barrier to doing high quality work. But I will always be in treatment of some kind, and it will have an impact on where I apply (ie, large metropolitan cities where I know healthcare is top-notch.) While it makes me an interesting applicant, I'm afraid it also might come across as a liability. Do I address in my SOP or just check off the 'disability' box that I know most graduate applications include?

captainscarlet, this is probably something that's more a matter of opinion, but my $.2: I think you should just start reading books, looking through museum collections online, wandering through your local museum-- just start thinking about what draws you and you'll find a specialization organically. The most important thing as a PhD student is to really love your subject with a passion. If not, you'll be spending a lot of time doing something you don't really, truly love. That said, I read recently that there's a lack of new scholars in fields that aren't modern/contemporary.

Weepsie, you might be glad to know that funding for PhDs is VERY different than it is in the UK/EU. You won't see studentships advertised because the funding structure is different; generally, individual institutions fund their graduate students (with a combination of funding from other sources, advertised as grants or fellowships, from both private foundations and public funds) and when you're admitted you're also notified of your funding package. Each individual department website should have some information on how students are funded, as well as a list of grants that recent students have been awarded. You can also look through last year's thread to see people fretting about their funding, getting excited about their full funding, etc, to get an idea of what the process is like From what I've seen so far, UK studentships require UK or EU residency, sadly, or I'd be considering applying abroad, too.

If you're interested in a Fulbright and think you're a qualified applicant, I would look at it as an opportunity, not a means to an end. The application process is a great means for discernment-- you learn a lot about your own research interests in the process of writing it, and it's a worthwhile exercise whether or not you're accepted. A year of independent research can also add a lot to your CV. A caveat: not all Fulbrights are equal. It's generally easier (more applicants, but less self-selective) to get an ETA award, and countries vary in competitiveness. A Fulbright to fund study at Oxbridge is on the high end of competitive. Discuss with your adviser if you might be interested and qualified to apply somewhere else. It's amazing how a year abroad can bring goals, POIs, research interests into sharper focus. (For me, at least, it's opened up a lot of additional possibilities that are making decisions more difficult, but I think it's all part of the same process!)

Louisville is the closest thing to an exception, I think, but still not entirely accepting-- I think the fact that they team up with Indiana for pride (Kentuckiana) is a pretty good reflection of the state of the community. I spent some time with my girlfriend in Louisville and definitely felt uncomfortable holding hands or dancing, things I feel completely comfortable doing in places like New York and Boston. We got looks-- and not just looks of mild curiosity, but a few really hateful ones.